Flintshire Observer Mining Journal and General Advertiser for the Counties of Flint Denbigh

ELEGANCE EXEMPLIFIED.—A Turkish teacher was once going out, attended by his pupils. He thought proper to ride first, mounted with his face to his ass's tail. "Why, O teacher," they asked him, do you ride backward in that way? If I should ride in the usual manner," he explained, I should turn my back to you and if j-ou should ride before me, vou would turn your backs to me. The most elegant way is to do this." A HUNTER'S HAVEN.—Men have been busy for some time past arranging the covers and otherwise prepar- ing for the work of the Fishers' Island Club. This club was formed about a year ago. and a lease was made of several thousand acres on the eastern part of Fishers' Island, off the Connecticut coast. The in- tention of the founders of the club was to establish a game preserve within ready distance of this city, where the members might go with the assurance of finding some sport. The island is now the resort of many species of water fowl, and the snipe shooting attracts many sportsmen from the Connecticut towns as well as from this city. Numbers of live quail from Western covers have been secured, and have been turned loose in the preserve. English hares, peasants and partridges have also been placed in the park, and gamekeepers appointed. Several fresh water pon s in the interior of the island are to be kept stocked with fish, partly to afford angling to the clubmen, but mainly to attract water fowl. Detroit Free Press.

■ r :>j T/VU E OF =, l ,S. i- JL JL V .>1 i j f i w o. IlI:ITI2-7 1 N. A return has been published by the High Sheriff of Norfolk, stating that the expenses of Mr. Clare Sewell Read, M.P., at the late unopposed election for "West Norfolk amounted to £ 489 Is. lOd. A destructive fire occurred at a farm at Farthingloe, Dover, on Saturday. Four horses were burnt to death, and one man, supposed to be a labourer, burnt beyond recognition. The first part of the Castellani sale at Rome, devoted entirely to medals and painted vases, did not draw together the number of amateurs that was anticipated. The medals brought 22,560 francs, and the vases 72,006 francs, one of thwse being knocked down at 25.000 francs. The New South "Wales Government have instituted a system of technical education on an enlarged scale. In 1883 the amount expended in the colony for this pur- pose was £ 10,000. This year it will be increased to £ 25,000. The latest return of the number of volumes in the British Museum is just over 1,300,000. There are 160 miles of shelves, and about twenty more miles to be filled. It is calculated that about one ton of literature a day is sent into that institution. A novel phrase of the co-operative movement is under trial at AVellingborougb. Northampton, where 200 working men have banded themselves together and rented a farm of 180 acres, which they will cultivate themselves. A curious fete is to be held at Pompeii at the begin- ning of May. The first day it js supposed there is a visit from the Emperor of Rome to Pompeii; there will be circus games, chariot races, procession, and a number of shops will be decked out as they would have appeared 1800 years ago. On the second day will be a marriage and a funeral with their respective rites. The third day are promised gladiatorial games and a gladiator fete. The United States Senate have passed the bill for distributing the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars among those who will discover, or rescue, or satis- factorily ascertain the fate of Lieutenant Greeley's expedition to the Arctic regions. The Right Rev. Dr. Hills has resigned the Bishopric of British Columbia. Dr. Hills was formerly vicar of Great Yarmouth, and in early life worked under Dr. Hook at Leeds. The majority of the committee of the United States Senate upon the Woman Suffrage Bill have reported in favour of it. The Board of Trade has given notice that the Sea Fisheries Act, passed last year, is to come into force on the 15th of May next. Last week's receipts of cotton at all United States ports were 53.000 bales since 1st September, 4,515,000 bales. Week's exports to Great Britain, 46.000 bales to the Continent, 26,000 bales. Total since 1st Sep- tember, 3,252,000 bales; stock at all ports. 745,000 bales. The Graphic says that decorating bald heads is the latest freak of fashion across the Atlantic. At a recent New York party three bald gentlemen appeared with elaborate pictures painted on their bare scalps, one choosing a copy of Meissonnier, another a battle piece, and the third a group of fish. Mr. Alderman William Fawcett, J.P. for Salisbury, father of the Postmaster-General, completed his 91st year on Saturday. The West Hartlepool steam foundry, with all its stock of valuable machinery was destroyed by fire on Saturday. The Exhibition at Bradford, opened by the Prince of Wales last year. in connection with the Technical School, has resulted in a net profit of nearly i-1000. The Sage Public Library, which has just been opened and handed over to the authorities of Bay City, Michigan, is reported to represent a cash value of $50,000. There has been an important movement of grain to the American seaboard. The exports in the first week of April are expected to be six times as large as those in the first week in March. The Turin Exhibition will be opened on the 26th of April, and remain open till November. Great festivities are being arranged in the city for each month of that period. The area of the exhibition and its gardens covered about 100 acres. The General Board of Studies at Cambridge announce that no less than twenty-five readers and university lecturers will be appointed next term. Of these, five are to be in mathematics, five also in history, four in different departments of biology, two in comparative philology, and two also in botany. The Sanitary Engineer of New York says that a bill has been introduced into the New York Assembly to compel stamping on canned goods the date on which they were put up. and preventing the sale of goods more than a year old. At the last meeting of the London School Board a motion was carried to appoint a lady to teach Swedish exercises (gymnastics) at a salary of £200 a year. This is the second appointment of the kind. Countess Granville has recently passed the examina- tion for a vellum certificate in connection with the nursing classes of the St. John Ambulance Association. The Duke of Connaught had a day's pig-sticking re- cently with the 13th Hussars. The duke got a first spear after a very long gallop of over three miles. The boar was quite beat, and tried to shelter in a small nullah, where the duke struck him. The Duchess of Connaught saw the sport from an elephant. Messrs. Cassell have in preparation a work entitled Working Men Co-operators: What they have Done and What they are Doing," being a handbook giving an account of the artisans' co-operative movement, by Mr. A. H. Dyke Acland. Senior Bursar of Balliol College, and Steward of Christ Church, Oxford, and Mr. B. Jones, honorary secretary of the Southern Section of the Central Co-operative Board. A case of somnabulism has occurred in the neigh- bourhood of Birmingham. The only daughter of a family was, early the other morning, missing from her bedchamber, and on the servants instituting a search, they found her standing at the garden gate, clad only in her night-dress, and fast asleep. The latest census shows that the numerical increase of population during a period of nine and a quarter years has been twice as great in New South Wales, and nearly twice as great in New Zealand, as in Victoria. With the exception of Tasmania, Victoria is shown to be the colony in which the increase of population is slowest. A New York telegram says that the visible supply of wheat on March 28 was 29,600,000 bushels, as against 30,200,000 bushels the previous week. Visible supply of Indian corn 17,600,000 bushels, as against 17,000,000 bushels the previous week. The export clearances of wheat for Europe during last week amounted to 400,000 bushels. The export clearances of Indian corn for Europe during the week amounted to 800,000 bushels. Five bandits, who committed murders at Tombstone, Arizona, were hanged together on Friday in last week. Large crowds attended. A gallery was built overlook- ing the gaol-yard to which an admission fee was charged. The crowd resented this and destroyed the gallery. Seven persons were injured in the melee. The arrivals of live stock and fresh meat at Liverpool during the last week from American and Canadian ports continued on a large scale, and the imports of live stock and fresh meat at Liverpool during the last week in March from those countries amounted to 949 cattle, 317 sheep, 10,819 quarters of beef, and 1,186 car- cases of mutton. The conveying steamers were seven in number. It is calculated by some American writers that the gross receipts so far during Mr. Irving's five months tour in the United States and Canada have been over £ 80,000. The outlay has, however, been immense, and the current expenses very heavy. The largest sums have been taken so far in Boston and Chicago in spite of the extreme severity of the winter, and the smallest in Cincinnati and Baltimore. Thirty-two British and foreign actual shipwrecks were reported during last week, against 41 for the corresponding week of last year, the total for the present year being 510, against 645 for 1883. Twenty- nine lives were lost, against 88 last year. Five steamers (four British and one French) sank. Two vessels were abandoned on fire: and those lost with all hands comprised only two small British coasters. The Canadian Government has decided to make a free grant of 7,000,000 acres of land to the proposed Winni- peg and Hudson Bay Railway. It is stated that a petition will shortly be presented to President Arthur, asking him to interfere to ?" ° a commutation of the sentence passed upon Dr. 1 Gallagher for his concern in the dynamite pjo in land. The contention of the petitioners favour said, that an alibi can be proved t ;n the Mr. Gladstone having beeri asked tomdudemtfie Service Clause of the Franchise Bill men serving in .ucb SS tte' ThTJpplioato °?ly l|" bJ P"" ticu'ar circumstances of each. A shock of earthquake has been felt throughout almost the whole province of Kostambol, in Asia Minor, its effects being most marked at Kostambol, the capital of the province, Tchangri. and Sinope. Some damage was caused to property, but there was no loss of life. A St. Petersburg telegram says that twenty-one peasants charged with being concerned in the anti- Jewish excesses, which took place last year at the village of Orlowstschina, have been tried. The jury returned a verdict of guilty against twenty of the accused. The Court sentenced nine of them to terms of imprisonment varying from eight to eighteen months, and left. t remaining eleven to be dealt with by the local magis- trate.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. In the HOUSE OF LORDS, March 31, there was a large attendance of peers, and a considerable number of peeresses and the daughters of peers all clad in deep mourning occupied places in the side galleries. THE LATE DUKE OF ALBANY. Lord Granville, in moving addresses to Her Majesty and the Duchess of Albany, spoke in graceful terms of the high mental qualities of the deceased Royal Duke. He mentioned that his Royal Highness took a great interest in politics-in home, in foreign, and especially in colonial questions—and frequently aided the Queen in her daily political work. His wish was to be em- ployed in the service of the State. The noble lord spoke of his motion as one asking for the expression of their lordships' sympathy with the widowed mother, and with the young widow who was soon to become a mother for the second tine. Lord Salisbury, in some eloquent observations, seconded the motion. He regarded the death of the Prince as a loss to every class of society in this country, and was convinced that regret and sympathy in connec- tion with the sad event would find a voice wherever the English tongue was spoken. The motions for the addresses were put and carried nemine contradicente,' and it was resolved that the address to her Majesty should be presented by the lords with white staves," and that to the Duchess of Albany by the Duke of Bedford and the Duke of Richmond. THE SOUDAN. Replying to Lord Colchester, Earl Granville said her Majesty's Government had no information leading them to believe that the Mahdi was disposed to accept the offers made to him in respect of Kordofan. He doubted the possibility of marching our troops at present in order to open the road to Khartoum. The Marquis of Salisbury remarked that after 6000 blacks and 200 whites had been killed in the Soudan the original situation remained unaltered. The Medical Act Amendment Bill was read a third time and passed, and their lordships rose at twenty minutes past five o'clock. In the HOUSE OF COMMONS, the Clerk, Sir T. Erskine May, announced that the Speaker was unable to take the chair in consequence of severe indisposition. Sir Arthur Otway, Chairman of Committees, accordingly took the chair as Deputy-Speaker. LETTER FROM MR. BRADLAUGH. A letter having been read from Mr. Bradlaugh, requesting that, pending the hearing of the suit brought against him by the Attorney-General, he might have access to the library, and thus be enabled to refer to the records of the House, Sir S. Northcote observed that the request was a reasonable one, and moved that Mr. Bradlaugh should be permitted to use the library of the House, being otherwise subject to the resolution of the 21st February last. This was agreed to. THE SOUDAN. The Marquis of Hartington stated, in reply to Sir S. Northcote, that the Government would endeavour to communicate to the House such information as might be possible with regard to the Soudan and the defence of Souakim before the Easter recess. As regarded the state of affairs at Khartoum, he was not able in tie present state of the communications between Khar- and Cairo to say how far it would be pos- sible for him to make any statement. A message had been received from General Gordon confirming the reports published in the morning papers, and contain- mg statements of a reassuring character as to his own security and the safety of Khartoum. VOTE OF CONDOLENCE. Mr. Gladstone, whose reappearance in the House Was loudly cheered from both sides, moved the Address of condolence with the Queen and the Duchess of Albany. Her Majesty, he said, was well aware, from experience, that the joys and sorrows °f the Royal Family were shared by the country at large but the House would be ill doing justice to the sentiments of the country if it neglected this opportunity of placing on record the reeling which animated it on this occasion. The Prince whom we had lost was not marked out solely by his birth and rank, but the gifts with which nature had endowed him had been carefully cultivated, and his Royal Highness had always shown himself earnestly desirous of devoting those gifts to the service ot nis country. His career recalled in no mean degree the memory of his illustrious father, and if he had lived he would undoubtedly have made his mark on the his- tory of his country. Mr. Gladstone concluded his speech by saying: The Duke of Albany had within a period comparatively recent assumed the position of the head of a family, and it is well known to the world that in the choice he made he exhibited that sound judgment and that careful discernment which are so important in the case of every marriage, but most of all in the case of the marriage of persons of high social dis- tinction. The short experience which this country has had the Duchess of Albany has sustained the opinion and i^ent which had already been formed by those most kn concerned on the ground of their previous °,^edge, and has amply shown that she was well 4 ahfied both to fill her high position as a British m 1{1>^eSS all(^ likewise to fulfil the duties of a wife and ker to a man of the high character and distinguished bio S >, Albany. Upon her, indeed, the i:^v fallen with unusual severity. This address is Alb6' e^^er f°r her Majesty or for the Duchess of The3,1^' f°r the purpose of mitigating such an affliction, that h°°k w^hout doubt to higher consolation than any their n heart and kindness can administer to be is so SU^).ort in such a grievous contingency. But yet there sometb" sir, in the sympathy and concern—thereis to th f a tribute such as we now propose to carry to th n the Throne to convey to her Majesty and H0Use Uchess of Albany, with the authority which the their l>ai'liament can give to any expression of js ^apathy—something of alleviation. Such as it can i the true expression of our sentiments. We everonly regret that it is not more effective, but what- bv Can done by genuineness and earnestness, and affpWf-rm sentiments springing out of a deep, an old, an don e loyalty to the Throne, will, I am sure, be avail -Jft thi» occasion, and may a little, if not greatly, <7. m the hour of a sad and crushing calamity, his Northcote in seconding the motion, expressed cornf\atification that Mr. Gladstone had been able to the °^n to move the vote, in regard to which he said wihdominant feeling in the country must be sympathy thesp widowed mother and the widowed wife. On in }m,?CCa.si011s the country sympathised with the Queen show™ JJr'vate character, and she herself had always for j1(, rself so prompt to sympathise with others— cond ir OWn sorrows had never made her selfish-that man 611ce 'Was no idle form. The right hon. gentle- Hi<, C0I1<dUfk'd by saying the life of his Royal of s ff Duke of Albany was marked by much to +V, and by many near approaches bim rpi, end which has at last come upon eyes f 8»vo him a greater interest, perhaps, in the certa'i a11 Ayb° saw or knew and watched him, and were y must have done so in the hearts of those who in Snearly related to him. From time to time we were after ?ense lest the blow was about to fall; yet time thou v !Ine he was restored to us, and, rejoicing in the consn f that be had in her whom he had taken as his be„,°r, a worthy and affectionate helpmate we had just t0 think that his health was established and that K]. ,i i.w,as before him a peaceful and a useful life, when in ru 0ur h°Pes have been so rudely shattered. But r s°rrow we arc glad to know that she who has J- -e an?°ng us as the bride of one of England's most fJdS«I5W sons will feel that the sympathies of daughter &re extended to her, England's adopted The resolution was at once agreed to. rrn, „ j FRANCHISE BILL. de!)ate on Lord John Manners's Tipvmwntat: ° motion for the second reading of the Forster whn°«/i- People Bill was resumed by Mr. the bill'beinf+V>V1 tll(' Government, in the event of fordsWnsTslconTch °Ut the Lords' to «ive their were postponed and T TtVTould^t^1"6^ ^eir rC'of 5X There would still be a Household Franchise Bill but the Conservatives would have control of the redistribution, which, in his opinion, would be a calamity. Sir R. Peel, alluding to the "candid critililisms" of the Bill by Mr. Goschen, Mr. Baxter, aud Mr. Forster remarked that there was no more certain indication of the crumbling up of a Government than when it was assailed by its quondam friends and allies. The truth was that the House itself could not recognise the necessity for this Bill which appropriated to two millions of the most ignorant and most inexperienced classes the immediate and absolute control of the vast Th^disLssion^continued by Mr. Craig-SeUar and The discussion was continued by Blr. Craig-SelIarand TT1" who supported the bill, and by Mr.. S. Herbert and Sir R. Cross, who spoke in favour of the amendment. The right hon. gentleman insisted that t-hn°J.e assenting to the proposed lowering of franchise ought to know from the Government how y members Ireland was to have, and to obtain some cv,; ar7ee that redistribution and extension of the fran- Mr So T dealt with in the same Parliament. 186fi.R7 i, T^evre urged that with the experience of in kPB .™re them, the Government had acted wisely It was SF* redistribution and the suffrage distinct, bution i ^rate intention to deal with redistri- fault if »n next session, and it would not be their tion tn„Jne|u,ure was n°t passed before a general elec- tion HP With regard to the Irish representa- Witli lmrm nded that Ireland was entitled to be dealt KmgdomnaneqUalfooting with the rest of the United again adf0Mned°n °f M" H' Beach'the debate was Lord Hartington then moved the adjournment of the House, and, on behalf of the House, thanked the Deputy-Speaker for the sacrifice he had made of his personal comfort in leaving his sick room to carry on the business in Mr. Speaker's enforced absence. Sir S. Northcote added a few words to the same effect, and the House adjourned at a quarter-past twelve o'clock.

A PRISON ON FIRE. < On Friday night in last week a fire of a most serious character broke out at the Manchester City Prison, at Bell Vue, Hyde-road. The prison is mostly built of brick, and is surrounded by walls on each side except the front. The alarm was raised by some of the night warders shortly before nine o'clock, and the hose of the prison and that of some of the buildings in the neighbourhood were immediately got to work, while by telephonic communication the Manchester Fire Brigade were informed of the occurrence. The fire originated in the stores, but it is difficult to say from what cause. The flames spread with terrible rapidity, causing the wildest alarm both in and out of the prison, and in a quarter of an hour, and before the Manchester Fire Brigade had got to work, the block had been burned out. The flames rose to a considerable height, and swept against a tower which rises to a great height and which is used for ventilation. The prisoners bad gone to bed about an hour before the alarm was given, and they, numbering something like a thousand, clamoured to be released on hearing the roaring of the flames. The warders had great difficulty in allaying the fears of the prisoners by telling them that that por- tion of the premises was fireproof, and that help was at hand. Those who were in the hospital were at once removed to a place of safety, and other precau- tions were as rapidly as possible made to place the prisoners in the immediate vicinity of the Ire out of harm's way. By ten o'clock the flames were being rapidly got under, and, assisted by a large body of Manchester police officers, the prison authorities kept the prisoners under full control. The escape of the inmates of the prison is regarded as being partly due to the fireproof character of the building, and to the discipline shown by the Governor and officials, and submitted to by the inmates.

DEATH FROM THE BITE OF A MONKEY. In London Dr. George Danford Thomas has held an inquest at University College Hospiruj on the body of Captain George Butler, aged 68, Quartermaster of the 17th North Middlesex Rifle Volunteers. Mrs. Eleanor Francis Butler, widow of the deceased, deposed that her husband had a pet monkey which he frequently took upon his knees and played with. On the morning of the 7th inst. the monkey seemed rather restive and attempted to bite the witness. Her hus- band said "Come, none of that," and, as she supposed, either held the animal by the shoulders or shook it. The monkey immediately turned and bit him, first on the left hand and then on the right between the thumb and the forefinger, and the blood flowed. Captain Butler had the wound cau- terised, and subsequently went to the hospital. On Tuesday evening in last week he became insensible and died on the following morning. Mr. Albert Richard Spencer, resident medical officer, said the deceased was received there with a wound on the back of the right thumb in a gangrenous state, and a smaller wound on the other hand. He was also suffering from diabetes. He went on fairly for the first two days, but then became weak and drowsy owing to the suppuration of the wound. In answer to the coroner, the witness said that a bite from a monkey would not necessarily produce rabies, but the deceased's consti- tution was in such a state that anything might produce the same effect. The cause of death was blood poisoning from the bite of the monkey, accelerated by severe diabetes. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence.

THE CULTIVATION OF FERNS The majority of the ferns indigenous to Europe may be successfully grown in the open air in any part of Britain. Some few species from the most southern parts require protection, but even these thrive admir- ably, and produce a beautiful appearance if they have the protection of a Ward's or window case. Never- theless, many mistakes are made in the cultivation of these plants, apparently for the reason that -this, although not difficult, requires, like most other things, a certain amount of attention. For instance, it is a mistake to suppose that for the cultivation of ferns nothing is required but to give them plenty of water and keep them in the shade. Acting upon this advice, the poor ferns are kept drenched with water, until the soil becomes a perfect bog, and they are carefully ex- cluded from even a chance streak of sunshine; the result of such treatment naturally is, that after a short existence they miserably perish. Another mis- take into which people fall is based on the theory that ferns require plenty of heat, shade and moisture and this is acted upon without the slightest qualification, no matter whether the ferns in question are natives of California or Cochin China, Botany Bay, or Bengal. To a certain extent these views are right enough, but they require modification, and special applica- tion in particular cases, in order that they may be acted upon successfully. It may safely be laid down as a general principle that moisture in abund- ance is essential to the well-being of all ferns, but pro- vision must always be made to carry it away quickly, for if allowed to become stagnant about their roots, sickness and death will speedily follow. Again, ferns enjoy shade, but it is quite erroneous to suppose that in a state of nature they grow only in sunless spots, for some of the most delicate kinds are found growing on the sunny side of mountain slopes, although some species do grow most luxuriantly on a northern aspect. In the matter of heat, even with the strictly tropical kinds, cultivators usually err on the side of excess, the consequences of which are weakly growth and a plague of thrips; for it may be taken for granted that when these insect pests abound, the atmosphere is too hot or too dry, or in all probability both, and the subject of their attacks must at once he removed to a cooler temperature. European ferns generally are easy to cultivate, and yet there are amongst their numbers some few species which are quite as difficult to grow creditably as any in the known world.—European Ferns.

OVERWORKED GIRLS. A very dismal account was given the other day of the overworking of girls in a fashionable millinery establishment, remarks the Graphic. Most people have been thinking that the evils denounced were abolished long ago, when inspectors were first appointed to see that sempstresses were not made to work in unhealthy rooms, or for more than so many hours in a day. But we are told that the visits of the inspectors are mere forms, and somehow this is alleged to be the case whenever an inspector's work is examined by the light of abuses suddenly flaring up. We should like, however, to hear the inspector's story. Inspectors, of no matter what, are seldom adequately paid, and in discharging their duties they are exposed to many temptations which, if sur- mounted lav them open to much sullen ill-will. The inspector who is determined to find out things must have a fine pair of eyes and a lively wit to cope with the conspiracies which are at once set afoot to mislead him. Generally he gets on the. scent of only small irregularities, which are as vermin beside the mammoth evils which he dare not encounter single- banded, and when he has run down one of these small noxious things, no one thanks him, and he finds the game was not worth the time and trouble it cost to kill. The easy-going inspector, on the other hand, leads a pleasant life, and that is something to consider for a man who does not care to be always floundering in hot water. What is an inspector to do if, as we are informed, the very girls who are overworked to l losiriS their health are afraid to complain ,rJOU^d lose the situations which are killing rmwLi ™ 6 i^an onb' loot to an improved state of fthn<5P« nmuv, • ^or a ref°rm of these slave-driving the improvement will come all the sooner if the overworked girls have the moral courage to stand by one another, and refuse all in a body to sub- mit to treatment which they know to be illegal.

THE LATEST "lTTER CRY."—[A correspondence has been going on in the Daily News concerning the miserable accommodation provided for serTants in aristocratic mansions.] The Countess: Cinders again in the soup, Perkins-how is it ? Perkins Please, your la'ship, I think as they must come out o' my 'air; which the scullery, as is my bedroom, is that infected with rats, I've been obliged all last week to sleep in the dustbin "-Funny Foiks.

EXTRAORDINARY RIOT IN AMERICA. Writing on Sunday night, the New York corres- pondent of the Daily Ac-ws says One of the most formidable and bloody riots ever witnessed in this country since the civil war has been raging in Cincinnati since Friday night. The imme- diate origin was an indignation meeting held there to protest against a verdict of manslaughter in the trial of a self-confessed murderer named Berner, but there are other causes more remote. The fact is that the administration of justice in Cincinnati has been little less than a farce for many years. There has been only one man hanged for murder since 1866. There are at the present time more than twenty murderers in the county gaol who have escaped with only imprisonment instead of the full penalty of the law. Berner's case was particularly atrocious. He confessed seven times to killing his employer for money. A short time ago a whole family was murdered by fiends for the purpose of selling their bodies to medical colleges for dissection. There having been fully 40 escapes from justice, some murderers being released on bail and others sen- tenced to inadequate terms of imprisonment, public exasperation became intense, especially among the work- ing men and the opinion got abroad that any one could commit murder and get free if he had money to pay to unscrupulous criminal lawyers. When the jury b, ought in the Berner verdict the judge pro- nounced it an outrage, and the public indignation was so great that a mass meeting was called. The design of the callers was to prevent rather than to promote violence, but the attendance was immense, and the audience soon became uncontrollable. vlany attended equipped with ropes, and when the speakers denounced the miscarriage of justice, and alluded to the murderers in gaol, a cry was started, Hang them all! This was enough. The meeting became a mob, and the whole mass, infuriated almost to madness, started for the gaol. Thousands of others joined them as the crowd rushed on, and when the gaol was reached there were tuliy lU,UUU yelling men determined to force open the gaol and hang all the murderers. A long oak plank was seized and used as a battering ram, and the outer door was forced open. With another plank an entrance was forced through the window. The mob rushed into the gaol by both entrances, but were firmly resisted by the sheriff and his assistants, and by the police who had been sum- moned. Still, the mob were so powerful that they forced their way into the cell-room, where they dis- covered that Berner had been removed to another city. This infuriated them afresh, and they demanded all the other murderers. By coolness and discipline the police manfully forced the rioters back and outside again without causing bloodshed. Then a fresh attack was made on all parts of the gaol, and the mob were rapidly breaking down all the barriers, when the militia appeared on the scene. Their firing a volley cleared the gaol of the rioters, who made an attempt to fire the building by pouring in a barrel of coal oil and firing it: but, being fireproof, little harm was done. The militia gradually dispersed the mob, but only after five men were killed and about sixty wounded. During yesterday all the streets leading to the gaol were barricaded by the authorities, and a heavy guard of veterans from a former war regiment were stationed. A fresh outbreak was anticipated when night returned, and was made with frightful results. The crowd began to muster early in the evening, and at ten o'clock reached enormous proportions. Many of the rioters were armed, and kept up a scattering fire on the military, who returned it only by shooting in the air. Several dynamite bombs were thrown ;nto the prison yard, and during a scene of terrific violence a ;s u eld en rush was made for the Court-house near by. The entrance was forced, and oil poured into the building and fired. When the fire department arrived the mob refused to allow them to approach, and battered the engines to pieces. The Court-house, which was supposed to be fire-proof, was soon en- veloped in flames. It was a fine structure, costing a quarter of a million dollars, and contained valuable records, historical and other, and the second best law library in the country. The loss is irreparable. The success of firing this incited the mob to literal frenzy. They raided the gun stores, obtaining arms and ammunition. At 10.30 the military charged upon the mob, and began to attempt to clear the streets. The firing on both sides was heavy and the slaughter was dreadful. The rioters were entirely fearless, and stood their ground like veterans. At eleven o'clock a Gatling gun was brought up, and at the first discharge six rioters fell, but still the mob stood firm. At midnight the regular troops, sent by the governor, arrived and joined in the fray. The rioters faced the soldiers' guns like the typical crowd of madmen apparently courting death. At one o'clock the firing was heavier than ever, and a report is circulated that the rioters have obtained a cannon. No estimate of the loss of life is possible now, but it is thought that at least two hundred are killed or wounded.

SINGULAR CASE OF DISPUTED LIABILITY. In London on Saturday in the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice the cause Parker v. Eames" was heard, and was a curious case. It was brought by the indorsee for value—on a bill of exchange—against the acceptor. The de- fendant alleged that he had duly met the bill on its maturity. The onus of proof being upon the defendant, his counsel, having opened his case, called him. Mr. Eames stated that he was a barrister by profession, and that in July last he had received a notice from the London and County Bank, 21, Lombard-street, that a bill for X43 'lOs., of which he was the acceptor, would fall due on the following Saturday, and he was requested to come down to their bank on that day betwen 2 p.m and 3 p.m. It was admitted that the bankers were the agents for the plaintiff. In consequence of this notice, Mr. Eames stated that he had on the day in question gone to his Dank and obtained two £ 20 notes and £3 10s. in gold, the amount of the bill. He had then proceeded to the London and County Bank in Lombard-street, and had gone up to the counter set aside for bill transac- tions. This is protected by a bronze railing or barrier having an opening underneath the lower bar. He stated that he had taken out the two notes and the gold with the notice sent him by the bank, and had pushed the whole towards the cashier, under- neath and inside the barrier mentioned. The cashier, he stated, had put out his hand and drawn it towards him. The bank, it appeared, had not got the bill in their bank, and during a discussion that had ensued on the subject between the defendant and the cashier it appeared that a stranger who had been standing close by the defendant had put out his hand'and stolen the money in question. It had been missed almost im- mediately, and the defendant, indeed, said that he had seen the thief hurrying off and had followed him, but that upon getting outside he had wholly lost sight of him. The defendant admitted that at the time he had thought the loss was his. The whole question in the case, it will be seen, was whether or not the bank could be said to have taken possession or control of the money. The clerk in the bank was called for the plaintiff, and swore that the defendant never had tendered the money at all—he had never seen him put down any money. As the bill was not in the bank it would have been irregular, had it been ten- dered, to have accepted it. If the money ever had been put down at all it had not been pushed under the barrier, but had been left outside on the public part of the counter. After a witness had been called who had seen the theft of the money, it was admitted that the defendant could no longer resist the claim, and a verdIct. and judgment were accordingly taken for the plaintiff for the amount sought to be re- covered.

ANOTHER IDEA. Money is a great lever in the affairs of men," said a lecturer on finance. "Yes," exclaimed an auditor, it's so great a leaver that some of us can never keep it." STOPPING THE INTEREST.Daniel Webster once dined with an old Boston merchant, and when they came to the wine, a dusty old bottle was carefully de- canted by John and passed to the host. Taking the bottle, he poured out Mr. Webster's glass and handed it to him. Then pouring out another glass, he held it, to the light and said, How do you like it, Mr. Webster ? I think it is a very fine specimen of old port." Now, can you guess what it cost me ? said the host,—" Surely not," said Mr. Webster, I only know that it is excellent." Well, now, I can tell you, for I made a careful estimate the other day. When I add the interest to the first price, I find that it cost me the sum of just one dollar and twenty cents per glass Good gracious, you don't say so said Mr. Webster; and then, draining his glass, he pre- sented it again, with the remark, Fill it up again, as quick as you can, for I want to stop that confounded nterest!

SINGULAR ACTION AGAINST AN ASSURANCE COMPANY. In the Queen's Bench division of the High Court of Justice the case of "Saunders v. Freeman has been heard. This was an action brought by Mr. Charles Saunders as the admitted bona fide holder of a policy of assurance, dated April 5, 1882, effected in the General Life and Fire Assurance Company, of which the defendant is the secretary, on the life of one Alexander Pierre Khiebauld de la Crouee, to recover £ 2.500, which the company had undertaken to pay on the death of the assured, who died on the 19th Feb., 1883, in consideration of an annual premium of S37 10s. the policy in question having been obtained as a collateral security for an advance made to the deceased on a reversionary interest. The defence was that the deceased was of intemperate habits, a fact which was concealed from the defendant when the policy was taken out, and that therefore the com- pany are not liable. The taking out of the policy in question was admitted, and evidence was called, the first witness being Dr. Wood Hill, who proved that he had attended the deceased, who at his death was quite a young man, and who was of intemperate habits, and who suffered from heart complaint, complaining of giddiness, his pulse being of an exceedingly jerky character. He told the deceased that he was gradually killing himself through alcohol, and would have been much surprised if he had died from any- thing but alcoholic poisoning. Mr. Holmes, a chemist, of Lambourne, in Essex, proved that the deceased used to purchase medicines from him for coughs and colds. Mrs. Grenfell, now of the King's-road, Chelsea, was then called, and proved that the deceased had lodged in her house, firstly at Ivy-cottage. Ful- ham, and, after her removal from there, at her house at Lavender-hill. Wandsworth. In her cross- examination by Mr. Russell the witness said that the deceased used to drink gin before breakfast. She would not say it was half a pint at a time, for she did not know what the quantity he drank was. When- ever she saw he was drinking gin she used to take it away from him. He had been living for two months at her house, Ivy-cottage, before she knew he drank at all, nor did she know that he used to go to the Norfolk Arms for drink before breakfast. It was true that the deceased used to be shaking all over before breakfast and until he had some spirits, but that arose a great deal through nervousness. Mr. Russell: A man who drinks over night will probably be nervous the next morning. Witness: I don't know, sir. Mr. Russell: You have no masculine experience ? (Laughter.) Witness I know this: he took out his policy because he was a very honourable man, and wished to pay everybody. Mr. Russell: But lie had a re- versionary interest, and could not raise money on it without effecting a policy? Witness: I heard him say that a Mr. Bingham wanted to make him a bankrupt, and if so he never could go on the Stock Exchange again. Mr. Russell: I believe he used to borrow money from you—some £10 or £ 12 in the morning ? Witness I have lent him £10 or -912 in a morning, Mr. Russell: And that after that he was brought home drunk by a labourer ? Witness: Yes. Mr. Russell: Was he brought home drunk in a wheel- barrow ? Witness I think he came home in the usual way. (Great laughter.) I think he must have been robbed. He could not have spent f 10 or £ 12 in drink. Mr. Justice Grove: Used he to go to sleep in the morning? Witness: Yes, but he did not drink much in the morning. He used to drink much better in the evening. (Laughter.) Cross-examination continued: I said to his brother it would be far better that his family should look more after him, and that if he went on drinking it would be far better to put him in an asy- lum for inebriates. He told me when at Ivy-cottage that he had been locked up for being drunk, and had been fined by Mr. Paget, the magistrate. He also told me that when he was about fourteen or fifteen years of age he was fined for shooting with a revolver at the powder magazine in Hyde-park. Mr. Russell: Now as to the time when he lodged with you at Lavender-hill. There is a public-house called the Crown there ? Witness Yes but I don't know that he went there. Mr. Russell: But you have stated that besides what he spent out of doors he owed you L3 7s. 6d. for spirits as a month's bill. Was he not what is called a solitary drinker Witness: No. He would pay for every one in the place rather than drink by himself. He was exceedingly generous, and would not drink by himself, but when in my house nobody drunk with him except my nurse, when he gave her a glass or so. My nurse does not drink much. Mr. Russell: Of course you were not with him when he was drinking out of doors? Witness: No; but I think he would get others to drink with him. Mr. Russell So do 1. (Laughter.) Did he not have several fits when he was drunk while he was at your house ? Witness: I know he had one. Mr. Russell: And your treatment was this; you carried him to the sink and turned the water on? (Great laughter.) Witness: I was waiting for my furniture to come from my other house, and I was alone, so I took him in my arms and put him under the sink. (Roars of laughter.) Mr. Russell: Have you ever in your experience known so drunken a man ? Wit- ness Yes. A gentleman who used to lodge with me drank much worse. Mr. Justice Grove What, much worse than the deceased ? Witness Yes, my lord. In her re-examination by Mr. Jarvis, the witness said she believed the deceased used to sham fits whenever he wanted to borrow money from her. Mr. Jarvis: But about the shooting at the magazine in Hyde- park, he was then, you say, 14 or 15 years old. Wit- ness Yes; and he said he was taken up by a regi- ment of soldiers for it. (Laughter.) He was such a small man that it amused me to hear it took a whole regiment of soldiers to take him up. (Great laughter.) Mr. Justice Grove asked the learned counsel if after this evidence the plaintiff's case could be sustained, on which the foreman of the jury said they had made up their minds. Mr. Jarvis said it was useless to contest the matter any further, and the jury found a verdict for the defendants, for whom his lordship gave judgment.